Walking Group
For the last walk of the year we managed to get all the years weather in one day!! Six of us left a sunny Newbold, only to reach our starting point at Calver as it started to rain. After munching our sandwiches, the rain cleared away sufficiently for us to start.
We followed field paths by the side of the River Derwent until we reached the road into Bubnell. After following this road for a short distance we turned off onto a track and then crossed fields in bright sunshine. Over to our right we could see two plantations of trees planted so that E R was represented – this commemorated Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. As we made our way across the hillside the clouds started to gather again – the rainbow to our right also hinted at rain on the way and sure enough, as we reached another road down came the rain.
Pulling our hoods over our heads we bravely carried on hoping it would blow over with the blustery wind. Shortly we left the road and started to walk above Bank Wood. Here the wooded hillside gave us some shelter from the rain and sleet. After about a mile, even though the sun had come out, we decided to take a different route – the original walk would have taken us through Bramley Wood then down a steep muddy bank which would now be very slippy after all the rain.
Turning right down a lane, we could see Chatsworth House and the Emperor Fountain over to our right – earlier it had been shrouded in the mist and rain. After passing Bramley Farm we retraced our steps along the River Derwent back to Calver and our cars.
Stephen Franks
Next month’s walk will start from Church at 12.00 noon on January 4th – why don’t you bring your walking boots and join us to walk off your Christmas excesses!! We will eat our sandwiches in the Parish Room and walk from there through Holmebrook Valley Park to Cutthorpe and back. We will then walk to Bob and Ruth’s home for some very welcome, warming soup.